Modern ScreenRant also has an extremely clickbaity thumbnail, (sometimes even with a red circle/arrow) albeit with a much simpler title. What even happened to that channel/site? It used to be great, now it’s just another pile of shit...

Early on, there was heavy emphasis that Spongebob was more or less invincible similar to how Deadpool is invincible. This was elaborated on in the episode with the bully, but early episodes like Karate Choppers put Spongebob's threshold for damage on the same level as a squirrel in an unbreakable spacesuit. Often times he would immediately 'pop back out' from any folding, tearing or crushing performed on his body.

I think one of the reasons why scenes with Patrick (head exploding, skin tearing off), Squidward (toenail), and Mr. Krabs (foot coming off) are more visceral is because these characters are fleshier and not built up to be invincible at all.

Because Spongebob 'heals' so quickly, scenes where an injury is drawn out for comedic effect are also done with the other characters, causing those scenes to be associated with them rather than Spongebob and building a sense of dread in any future scenes where pain may befall the supporting cast.

The whole show is a great example of someone with superhuman ability (invulnerability) who cannot solve his problems with his special power alone. The same goes for One Punch Man, Deadpool, and... about 30% of the media referenced in this article. (Many of the shows only barely touch the trope, few embrace it like OPM)

It's not really a superpower, he's just a sponge. Similarly starfish have some pretty amazing regenerative abilities, and crabs will sometimes just rip off a limb for the fun of it, so I don't think it really causes a sense of dread with them either. They're just doing normal weird underwater stuff.

Squidward's toenail thing though was a grossout gag that went to far, that doesn't count.

Lmfao I love it when crazy theories to explain an unrealistic thing in shows are just the craziest amounts of stretching ideas to fit it...when the answer is literally right on the surface and somehow overlooked.

He's a Sponge. A creature that rebuilds itself when it gets damaged...and that reproduces by budding. So not only do they snap back from almost any damage, but they make more of themselves as well singlehandedly.

Also I said budding so obligatory: Can you reproduce by budding? Can yah canyahcanyahcanyah

He's not really just a sponge. In several episodes he is seen to have a skeletal system, something a sponge lacks.

The whole show is just based on wacky humor and requires a healthy ability to suspend disbelief. For example: it snows and rains underwater; bread somehow doesn't go to mush underwater; Plankton is only slightly smaller than an adult squid; there is a squirrel in a space suit; David Hasselhoff can swim like a dolphin (OK, maybe the last one is believable, but my point stands).

I think you’re right that it was Heck in that particular episode, but in the original opening sequence, you can see directions to Hell pretty clearly. They made them change it eventually, like many other times in the show, but it’s there in the original. Rocko was a pretty risqué show honestly. The 1990s were a lot more lenient on what you could do in a kids’ show.

Spongebob is a sponge, it doesn’t hurt him to have some body parts ripped off. Mr Krabs has a exoskeleton that he can remove at will, that’s what broke off. And Patrick is a starfish who can lose arms and re-grow them and his head is technically an arm. Aside from Spongebob exploding then being fine and Spongebob having leg bones these, strangely enough, aren’t just cartoon logic.

Biologically speaking, both sponges and sea stars regularly regenerate lost cells. Sponges are among the least complex multicellular organisms and can quickly regenerate since they do it asymetrically. Sea stars actually have numerous complex body systems that make their regeneration more involved but are also well known for regrowing lost limbs.